Athena Staik, Ph.D., LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are rooted in inability to handle emotions of fear and anger, and developing weight and food issues as coping mechanisms. EDs can have life-threatening consequences for females and males. Treatment focuses on learning new coping skills for dealing with stress, negativity, emotion regulation, and awareness of changes in attitude, spiraling thinking patterns, beliefs and choice making. Meditation, deep breathing, interpersonal and experiential psychotherapy are also part of treatment, to complement work with nutritionist for meal planning, nutritional basics and relapse prevention as necessary.